Safranin T- SDS- GO ternary system: A fluorescent pH sensor

Graphene oxide (GO), one of the popular materials in recent years, has been synthesized according to the modified Hummers' method. Stable dispersions of different amounts of negatively charged GO were prepared in aqueous media. The GO/dye composites were prepared in deionized water by a simple method with the positively charged Safranin T compound (SfT), which is known to have strong fluorescence properties. By changing the GO/dye ratio, it was obtained stable composites in aqueous media. It was investigated the interaction of SfT with GO in an aqueous solution under the critical micelle concentration (CMC), at the CMC and above the CMC by adding sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). It was clarified the formation of GO-SfT composites by using spectroscopic techniques. In these composites, the effect of GO layers on the SfT's photophysical properties was examined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The change in the quenching effect of GO was monitored both adding a stabilizing electrolyte (NaCl) to the media and changing the pH of the medium. The evaluation was on the probability of the GO-SfT-SDS ternary system being a pH sensing biological sensor material. As a result of this study, it was thought that the GO-SfT-SDS system could be functionalized as a fluorescent pH sensor by taking advantage of GO's sensitivity to pH.